"It's not an uncommon injury for hockey players. The severity, both sides, time will tell. I don't have a crystal ball to it. That was the diagnosis, that was the procedure, and there was not a timeline to the back end of it."

Regarding training camp, Wilson said, "There's a lot of work to be done prior to that point."

Havlat missed 51 regular-season games during two seasons in San Jose. He has 15 goals and 30 assists in 79 games with the Sharks.

Havlat played briefly in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was injured in the first period of Game 1 in the first round against the Vancouver Canucks. Havlat tried to come back in Game 3 of the second round against the Los Angeles Kings, but left in the first period and did not play again. The Sharks lost to the Kings in seven games.

"When he played the right way he was a very effective player," Wilson said. "He's a playoff-type player in certain series."

There had been speculation the Sharks would use a compliance buyout on Havlat, but that's no longer an option because injured players aren't eligible. He has two years remaining on a six-year, $30 million contract.

Wilson was asked if he expects Havlat to be on the team next season.

"It depends on his recovery," Wilson said. "If he's healthy, obviously he's a healthy player at that point and we'll make that decision."

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft